AUSTRALIAN SLANG DICTIONARY

Contents1. Ankle-biter

2. Billabong

3. Bloke

4. Creepy-crawley

5. Crook

6. Greenie

7. Larrikin

8. Outback

9. Oz

10. Sheila

11. Walkabout

12. Whinge

13. Yarn

Ankle-biter: a small or young child, a toddler

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Toddlers are called ankle-biters because they are short and only reach adults ankles. At this height they could bite an adult’s ankle.

Billabong: a waterhole

2This billabong is in the Kyabra, Queensland.

A Billabong is a pool of water that has collected because it did not keep on flowing along the main river.

Bloke: a man

3

Bloke is simply another word for man. Any man can be called a bloke.

Creepy-crawley: an insect

4

An insect creeps and crawls, that is why it can be called a creepy-crawley.

Crook: sick, unwell

Crook is another word for sick.

Someone who is dishonest or a criminal can also be called a crook.

5

Greenie: an environmentalist

A Greenie thinks it is important to look after the environment.

6

Larrikin: a naughty young person

A larrikin is a lively young person who enjoys playing tricks and simply having fun. Sometimes their fun can get them into trouble.

7

Outback: interior of Australia

The Outback is the centre of Australia where there are not many houses or people. The Outback has lots of bush, sand and animals.

8

Oz: Australia

Australia is sometimes called Oz because the sound “Aus” at the beginning of Australia sounds like “Oz.”

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Sheila: girl, womanThere were many Irish women called Sheelagh in the days when immigrants first moved to Australia. That is why a woman is sometimes called a Sheila.

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Walkabout: a time of wandering around

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To go on a walkabout is to go for a very long walk around the countryside.

Whinge: to complain

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To whinge is to complain about something in an annoying way.

Yarn: a story, joke or conversation

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To have a yarn is to tell a friend a story or to have a conversation with them.

References:• http://l2lgroup.com/_blog/L2L_Group/post/Make_Complaint_Resolution_Everyone's_Business/• http://analiseindiscreta.wordpress.com/2011/03/11/a-longa-caminhada-walkabout-1971/• http://countrystylefashion.com/women-of-the-outback• http://papundits.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/dividing-australia-by-race/• http://sickcerberus.com/• http://terrific-traffic.com/opal/v/exploration/Billabong.jpg.html• http://tumbrella.com.au/2010/11/16/outback-life-for-1/• http://www.australiatravelsearch.com.au/trc/slang.html• http://www.bonzasheila.com/gary/bonzasheila.html• http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_weevils/DiamondWeevil.htm• http://www.hcountryrcd.org/Community%20forestry.htm• http://www.koalanet.com.au/australian-slang.html• http://www.modernmom.com/article/cute-toddler-girl-hairstyles• http://www.nothinglikeaustralia.com.au/br/flash.htm#/entries/301-400• http://www.outbacksecrets.com/australian-slang.html• http://www.rowthree.com/category/extended-thoughts/• http://www.surfnetparents.com/1649/how-to-deal-with-your-teenage-boy/• http://www.ultratunesa.com.au/• http://www.wordreference.com/definition/crook

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